分類: 综合

If Dejounte Murray and Jayson Tatum are any indication, an Achilles injury is no longer as career-threatening as it once was. Both Murray and Tatum are looking great upon their returns after long absences caused by rupturing their Achilles tendons; East, in particular, has shined for the New Orleans Pelicans and at least given them hope that they can bounce back next year amid a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.

Murray is coming off a 35-point night in a close loss to the Houston Rockets, and he was efficient too, making 14 of his 18 field-goal attempts on the night. Tatum’s shooting isn’t far behind, but he shot 20-14-7 in his latest outing.

While all fans are seeing is the result of their hard work, Murray had to emphasize that his and his partner Achilles’ path to survival is not as easy as it makes it out to be. During the rehab process, it appears that the bond he has formed with Tatum and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who is also rehabbing, has made it at least a little easier — as seen this exchange Under one of Murray’s posts on Instagram.

Achilles It’s great to see people supporting each other man pic.twitter.com/ndIZGPUMDi

– JB (@lockedupjb) 15 March 2026

Dejounte Murray, Jayson Tatum are signs of hope for Tyrese Haliburton

Murray was out for over a year recovering from injury and all that time spent on the sidelines must have been very tough for a man who likes the game early. Tatum is an anomaly, as he returned to play less than a year after rupturing his Achilles. But he seems excited for a Celtics team with new title hopes.

This gives so much hope for the Indiana Pacers that Haliburton can provide a similar response after his much-anticipated return. The Pacers are hoping to pick up where they left off in the 2025 NBA Finals upon Haliburton’s return, and the success stories of Murray and Tatum suggest it’s indeed within the realm of possibility.

Just as the LA Clippers got John Collins back from injury and finally healthy, they may have lost Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard left Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings with a left ankle injury and was immediately taken out of the game after returning to the Clippers locker room. This was not the only injury suffered by Leonard, as the Clippers star suffered a laceration to his left eyelid after a collision with Kings star DeMar DeRozan, but he was able to return after being shut down.

After an ankle injury, leonard limped forward Expressed disappointment on the bench and the injury that has plagued him throughout the season.

Kawhi Leonard was in a lot of pain and had to go to the locker room.

It seemed as if he was holding his ribs or chest.

It is difficult to tell from here. pic.twitter.com/7AKaVohF6Z

– Grant “Money” Mona (@Gmona48) 15 March 2026

Kawhi Leonard finished Saturday night’s loss with 31 points, six rebounds and two steals, while shooting 13 of 23 from the field and 2 of 6 from three, but only 3 of 6 from the free throw line in 26 minutes of play. It was the second night of a back-to-back set for the Clippers and their ninth game in the first 14 days of the month.

After the game, head coach Tyronn Lue said the team had no update on Leonard’s injury.

Kawhi Leonard is reevaluated on Sunday afternoon, and the team announced that he is questionable to play in Monday night’s game against Victor Vembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. This is clearly a better sign than ruling him out of the game, with Leonard expected to receive treatment over the next 24 hours in preparation for the game.

Kawhi Leonard is questionable to play tomorrow for the Clippers vs. Spurs due to a sprained left ankle.

-Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 16 March 2026

Leonard also missed the Clippers’ home loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 26 due to a left ankle injury. That game occurred during a week in which the Clippers were scheduled to play only one game – against the Wolves – in seven days.

Despite the loss, Kawhi Leonard had his 45th consecutive game of 20 or more points against the Kings, setting a new franchise record for most consecutive 20+ point games in Clippers franchise history. Leonard surpassed legend Bob McAdoo’s previous record of 44-straight, and has the second-longest active streak behind Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

On the season, Kawhi Leonard has played in 53 of the Clippers’ 67 games, averaging 28.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game, while playing 32.4 minutes a night. The 28.3 points per game are a career high for Leonard, the only player in NBA history with the highest career scoring average in his 14th season or later. Leonard is shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 38 percent from three and 90.6 percent from the free throw line.

The Clippers, who are 34-33 on the season, have won 28 of their last 40 games after starting the season 6-21.

Doc Rivers addressed the injury scare that Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered in the Milwaukee Bucks’ win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday evening.

Antetokounmpo destroyed the Pacers’ defense in 23 minutes of action. He finished with a stat line of 31 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists. He shot 11 of 22 from the field and 9 of 13 from the free-throw line.

However, Antetokounmpo suffered an injury midway through the third quarter. He highlighted an incredible dunk, but landed awkwardly as he needed time to recover himself before getting up from the floor. According to reporter Eric Nehm, Rivers gave an update on the star forward’s health after the game, revealing hyperextension in his left knee.

“Doctor Rivers says he’s speculating that Giannis Antetokounmpo hyperextended his left knee on this dunk in the third quarter, but there was no official diagnosis from the team. Rivers also said he didn’t know if any imaging would be done on the injury yet,” Nehm wrote.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, how the Bucks played against the Pacers

The Bucks were fortunate to see that Giannis Antetokounmpo did not suffer any serious injuries. Despite this, the team kept it intact and defeated the Pacers with a score of 134-123.

Six players scored in double figures for Milwaukee in the win, including Antetokounmpo. Bobby Portis gave a strong performance with 29 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals off the bench. He made 11 of 21 shots overall, including 6 of 11 from downtown. Ryan Rollins came next with 20 points and seven assists, Myles Turner and Taurean Prince each scored 13 points, while AJ Green provided 12 points and two rebounds.

Milwaukee improved to a 28–39 record on the season and 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets while trailing the Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks.

The Bucks will stay at home and await their next matchup. They will host the Cleveland Cavaliers as tip-off takes place on March 17 at 8 PM ET.

The Sacramento Kings are on track to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive year and end up in the lottery. Not many people were optimistic about the Kings’ prospects before the season, and it remains true that they are at the bottom of the team standings.

The Kings lead 17-51 heading into their game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday.

Despite their forgettable campaign, Kings coach Doug Christie remains in good spirits. In particular, he is bullish on the team’s recent decision to sign Killian Hayes to a two-year contract. Hayes played 10 consecutive games on a 10-day contract with Sacramento before getting a full-time deal.

“He’s played really well. When he has the basketball, he controls the basketball, he runs the team, and he organizes and sets us up. Defensively, I think he’s been fantastic,” Christie said in a video posted by ESPN’s James Ham.

Christie said that Hayes can still “grow in different areas”, especially once he fully adjusts to their system and culture.

Christie said, “When I look at the totality of what he’s done, what we’ve asked of him and what we’ve taught him, the good shape he’s been in, it comes down to it, I like Killian, and I like everything about him. He’s a joy to coach. He tries to do all the right things when he’s on the field, impacting wins and helping his teammates.”

Doug Christie on Killian Hayes has been locked out of a non-guaranteed contract through the end of the year and into next season: pic.twitter.com/Y1sOFlZs8L

– James Ham (@James_HamNBA) 16 March 2026

The Detroit Pistons selected the 24-year-old Hayes as the No. 7 overall pick in 2020. However, his career has not progressed yet. Last season, he played six games with the Brooklyn Nets, averaging 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

Hayes will continue his goal of proving that he belongs in the NBA. He was selected ahead of the likes of Denny Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers, Devin Vassell of the San Antonio Spurs, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston’s Peyton Pritchard.

OKLAHOMA CITY – For the second consecutive game, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault inserted Ajay Mitchell into his starting lineup. After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of 20+ point games to 128 in a 116–103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Daigneault discussed Mitchell’s impact as part of his starting 5.

For Daigneault, Mitchell has proven himself enough to earn a starting spot amid the Thunder’s marquee matchups, he said, during his postgame media availability.

“We’re going to need him and despite being a high-impact player, he hasn’t played a lot of games,” Daigneault said. “So, the opportunity to get him out early in the game in some of these high-level games is an opportunity we want to take advantage of right now.”

Mitchell finished with 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 27 minutes for the Thunder. Mitchell emerged as one of Oklahoma City’s major impact players off the bench. In only his second season, Ajayi made significant progress which led to him being included in various of Daigneault’s lineups.

Mitchell’s playmaking and scoring abilities, as well as his defensive ability, have made him one of Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault’s favorite players this season.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Ajay Mitchell’s impact for Thunder

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander found out he scored 20 points after a 3-point play, causing a stampede in the crowd at Paycom Center. He extended his streak of scoring 20+ points to 128 consecutive games.

Then, after the win, Gilgeous-Alexander talked about how important Ajay Mitchell is to the Thunder.

“A guy who can make plays at any time,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “A guy who can pass, dribble, shoot at a high level on the basketball court, and also defend. And having guys like that on the court is a luxury. You don’t have any holes when he’s out on the court from his positioning standpoint. So, having him out there is a luxury. I don’t think we’ve lost since he came back, and it’s no surprise.

“He’s a really good basketball player. Makes us a better team. Makes us tough to guard and score on both ends.”

The Thunder extended their four-game home stand winning streak to eight straight after a 13-point win against the Timberwolves on Sunday.

Max Strauss was back as if he had never left. In his Cleveland Cavaliers season opener after missing the first 67 games of the campaign due to the recovery of his broken left foot, the 29-year-old swingman brought his signature energy and hustle as if he had been playing this entire time.

“I played hard,” Strus said after the Cavs’ 130–120 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

“They’ve put in a lot of time and effort, and we’ve had a lot of conversations and conversations about what that looks like for them,” Donovan Mitchell said. “It’s easy for a guy to get discouraged, and he’s not one to give up, but put himself in a bad situation. But watching him keep working — obviously when I was out, we played pickup and played 1-on-1 and played 2-on-2, 3-on-3. So to see him do what he did tonight, it’s the same thing he’s been doing for about two and a half weeks, honestly. Y’all just don’t get it.” And that’s the Max Strauss we know.”

Fighting back tears, Strus talked about his confidence out of the gate.

“It was a long road,” Strus said. “I only know one way to work, and that’s go as hard as possible. I do that every day, and tonight too. I’m happy to play. I had a good night, but it doesn’t matter; we lost. I work out at the same rate every day and try to implement game speed reps and push myself to the max. I think tonight was a good demonstration of why it works and why I push myself to be that player.”

Brimming with anticipation as he waited at the scorer’s table, the Rocket Arena crowd roared as the horn sounded, and Strus checked in at the 4:53 mark of the first quarter for PA announcer Sean Peebles’ re-introduction. Immediately, with Cleveland trailing by 10, the veteran forward scored three balls in 30 seconds on a pass from James Harden on the left wing, drawing a loud ovation.

“I felt the energy,” Strus said. “It was special from the moment I went there to shoot the pregame. It shows you how much Cleveland loves their game and how much they care. I’m so grateful to be in Cleveland for this reason and to play for this organization. Our fans are second to none. I love being here and I love playing for them.”

“I loved the crowd,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “That was a really great moment, him coming in, and then hitting the first two threes. So it’s a shining light on a good day for us.”

Strus missed his next three attempts from long range at the same spot, including a transition pull-up and Donovan Mitchell’s catch-and-shoot from 27 feet. He finished the first half with 16 points and 4 rebounds in 12 minutes of action on 4-of-5 from the field.

Despite the Cooper flag and the Mavs pulling away in the second half, Strus continued his attack with two more corner threes and a sky-high putback to try to keep the Cavs within reasonable limits. It ultimately wasn’t enough to push his team over the edge, but those familiar Strus traits were back again.

He shot 7 of 9 from the field with 24 points, 8 rebounds and one assist in 23 minutes.

“I think you learn a lot about yourself when something is taken away from you,” Strus said. “I think I understand how important it is and how much it means to me that I want to come back, I want to make an impact, I want to help this team win. I love playing basketball, and I love doing it with a group of good guys. I’m happy to be back to be able to do that.”

“It was an amazing performance after seven months without playing an NBA game,” Atkinson said. “That may have been the best I’ve seen during that period of absence, and then coming into an NBA game and performing like that.”

Strus’ usual backtaps, strength as a screener, and overall destructiveness were on full display on each end. Immediately, the sentiment changed, and this is the kind of game-changer the Cavs are adding to the mix as the season winds down and the playoffs approach.

“It was the little things, the tip-outs, the two threes he hit back-to-back off our zoom action,” Mitchell said. “I set fire [screen] For that, and then he did a set and slid into the corner. Like, whether the shot is going in or not, these are the things you miss with him. And of course, Sam [Merrill] “He’s been phenomenal in that as well, so now that we have two of those guys, it’s great to see him back and be an even bigger threat for us.”

“They’re another reason I want to come back this year,” Strus said of his teammates. “I could dress it up and say, ‘Ah, I’ll be back next year.’ But I’m motivating myself to play, I want to play and everyone here is supporting me the whole time. So they wanted me to come back and be myself and help this team win. And we have a few fun months left and we are ready to do well in the playoffs. So I’m just happy to be back with the guys and help us win some games.”

Anthony Edwards was critical of himself after the Minnesota Timberwolves struggled in their 116-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday afternoon.

In 37 minutes of action, Edwards finished with a stat line of 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. However, he committed six turnovers while shooting 6 of 17 from the field, including 2 of 5 from beyond the arc and 5 of 10 from the free-throw line.

Edwards reflected on the loss with reporters in the locker room after the game. He blamed himself for the mistakes he made against the Oklahoma City defense, including turnovers and a lack of shooting efficiency.

Edwards said, “I had a lot of turnovers myself. I didn’t make enough shots. I don’t think it had anything to do with my team. Especially myself. I had a lot of turnovers and didn’t make enough shots. It’s just that simple. Like I said it’s an AAU defense… it’s on me. I know what they’re going to do defensively, so it’s on me to turn the ball over.”

Anthony Edwards takes accountability after Thunder loss and says OKC plays ‘AAU’ defense:

“I had too many turnovers myself. I didn’t make enough shots. I don’t think it had anything to do with my team. More to do with me. I had too many turnovers and didn’t make enough shots. It’s… pic.twitter.com/yyDN6I0HuA

– NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) 15 March 2026

Anthony Edwards, how the Timberwolves played against the Thunder

Anthony Edwards is generally prominent as one of the top stars in the NBA. However, his troubles against an elite Thunder team will be a lesson for him and the Timberwolves moving forward.

Four players scored in double figures for Minnesota during the loss, including Edwards. Julius Randle led the team with a stat line of 32 points, seven rebounds, six assists and one block. He made 11 of 18 shots overall, including 3 of 5 from downtown and 7 of 8 from the charity stripe. Ayo Dosunmu was next with 18 points and four rebounds, while Donte DiVincenzo provided 16 points and nine rebounds.

Minnesota fell to a 41–27 record on the season, finishing sixth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers while trailing the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.

The Timberwolves will look to bounce back in their next game at home. They will host the Suns as tip-off takes place on March 17 at 8pm ET.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Snapping a 63-year-old streak with his 127 consecutive 20+ point performances in a 104-102 win against the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander almost saw his streak end there. Midway through the fourth quarter, despite maintaining a 12-point lead, it was still behind by 10 points. Then, Gilgeous-Alexander went into closeout mode, helping them save their streak and lead a 116–103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After scoring five points on back-to-back possessions, including a contested 3-pointer from Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards, Gilgeous-Alexander drew a shooting foul on Edwards to complete a 3-point game to reach 20 points. During the Timberwolves’ ensuing timeout, Gilgeous-Alexander looked up and realized What was the standing ovation at the Paycom Center for?

Gilgeous-Alexander said, “I didn’t realize until they were yelling after the free throws. I was a little confused.” “Then I realized, ‘Oh, this, the 20-point streak.’ Hello friends tonight. He did a great job of taking what the game gave him and being prepared. I had 10 assists tonight, and they were ready to hit shots. So, hats off to those guys.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on when he realized he extended his 20+ point streak to 128: “I didn’t realize until they were yelling after the free throws. I was a little confused…

Then I realized, ‘Oh, this, the 20-point streak.” pic.twitter.com/pigozVokah

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 15 March 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander’s 20 points made him one of three Thunder players to finish with 20+ points in Sunday’s win, joining All-Star Chet Holmgren (21 points) and Isaiah Joe (20 points), who shot 8 of 14 from the floor, including four threes. Jared McCain added 15 points on 5 of 9 3-point attempts.

SGA extends 20+ point streak to 128 in Thunder win

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander extended his streak of consecutive 20+ point games to the most in NBA history by scoring 10 points in the final six minutes of Sunday’s 13-point win (116-103) against the Timberwolves. Gilgeous-Alexander extended his 20+ point streak from the free-throw line on a 3-point play, drawing a shooting foul on Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards.

After the win, Gilgeous-Alexander reflected on the final frame, reminding reporters that the Thunder would go beyond doing everything in their power to ensure a win to continue their historic 20+ point game streak.

“I didn’t care about anything other than winning the game, like always,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Tonight’s game was very sloppy, low-scoring, they’re obviously a good defense, we’re a good defense; so, it’s no surprise. To me, these types of things never matter. It’s always about getting out of here with a W.

“If I have a night like tonight, and we win for the rest of the season like we won tonight, I’ll be the happiest person on Earth. So, all that matters is winning.”

The Thunder will look to extend their winning streak when they begin their five-game road trip with Tuesday’s matchup against the Magic.

On Sunday afternoon, the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered their fourth consecutive loss with a road loss at the hands of the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Although the Timberwolves led at halftime and controlled things well in the third quarter, things quickly fell apart from there, as Anthony Edwards struggled during a relatively quiet scoring night.

It was a particularly brutal game for Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert, who scored just two points and grabbed seven rebounds, finishing the night with a -23 in the box score.

Needless to say, fans on X, formerly Twitter, were having a blast at the much-maligned big man’s expense.

“gobert The most hilarious player on offense, straight up idol,” one fan wrote.

“Rudy gobert Not good offensively, he’s all over the place,” added another.

However, other users came to Gobert’s defense amid the harsh performance.

“I find it ridiculous how much Wolves fans hate gobert And want to kick him out of their team but that’s why they struggle every year. Without him they have zero security,” one fan said.

In fact, Gobert is a double-edged sword for Minnesota at times, as he is the obvious anchor of their defensive unit and consistently makes up for other players’ shortcomings on that end of the field, but generally offers nothing from an offensive skills perspective.

Some of Gobert’s notable mistakes over the years, as well as his frequent bullying from former players like Shaquille O’Neal, have made him an easy target for internet trolls looking to increase social media engagement.

However, there is certainly some validity to the notion that Gobert’s lack of offensive skills could present a major challenge for the Timberwolves, especially against elite teams like Oklahoma City.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch had some words for the officials after Sunday’s 116-103 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards was cleared to play in a matinee on the road, Minnesota trailed in the final frame, where the Thunder outscored their opponent 36–27.

In the second half, the Thunder took a two-point lead amid a tough contest. Then, Edwards fouled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on a 3-point play, turning Oklahoma City’s 13-point lead into a 16-point lead. According to Thunder Wire’s Clemente Almanza, he said, Finch did not back down from his complaint with the officials related to Edwards’ serious foul on Gilgeous-Alexander.

“The first one was probably a foul. What was unfortunate was they called a little grab on the inbounds play. It’s going on all over the place,” Finch said. “I still maintain that he doesn’t get as much respect defensively as he should. If you watch his guys play defense, they get caught a lot, which is OK. That’s part of the game. Then, you call him out – take him straight out of the game – that was tough for us.”

A reporter’s follow-up question focused on Isaiah Hartenstein, who returned to the Thunder’s lineup from a calf injury, and the starting center’s impact from the top of the key, where he did his damage passing and setting screens.

“We fell behind them a little bit,” Finch said. “Back then, we weren’t in a position to make emergency assists, you know. Had to struggle through those screens. We know he’s a playmaker. That’s what he does. Thought some of them were highly questionable whether they were legal or not, it didn’t matter. Got to struggle and you had to miss them.”

Edwards, who spent time in front of Gilgeous-Alexander all day, finished with 19 points on 6-for-17 shooting, including 2 of 5 from deep, six rebounds, five assists, a block and a steal against the Thunder.

Julius Randle, Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves fall short

While the final score between the Thunder and Timberwolves showed a 13-point difference, this Western Conference Finals matchup was much more competitive than the scores indicated. Anthony Edwards had a valiant all-around effort on both ends of the floor in the 127-117 win after his 40-point game. Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch just wants his team not to fall behind.

However, the Thunder showed their depth around All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (20 points) and Chet Holmgren (21 points), who combined to score 41 points, while Isaiah Joe scored 20 of the Thunder’s 61 points off the bench. Alex Caruso added 17 points, and Jared McCain connected on five 3-pointers.

The Denver Nuggets lost a tough game against the Los Angeles Lakers in overtime, but it feels like some things should have been different at the end of regulation. Austin Reaves went to the free-throw line a few times with a few seconds remaining in the game, but the first time he went, Spencer Jones drew the foul.

The next day, the last-two-minute report said Reeves was not to get to the free-throw line.

ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, formerly of the

This would have changed a lot for the Nuggets and could have given them a chance to increase their lead. Instead, Reeves sank both free throws, and went to the line again after being fouled. That miss allowed him to get the ball back and shoot the floater, tying the game and sending it into overtime.

The Nuggets lost the game with a Luka Doncic game-winner, and now they do not have a tiebreaker against the Lakers. This makes a lot of sense at the position, especially since everyone in the Western Conference is tight.

The Nuggets still have plenty of time to make up some ground, but they need to start piling up wins before other teams overtake them.

Plus, no matter where the Nuggets finish, they will be a tough matchup for anyone because of Nikola Jokic’s strength and his dominance.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Thunder adding Jared McCann to a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers is a gift that keeps on giving for the defending champions, as the second-year guard helped lead the way to a 116-103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. McCain connected on his fourth and fifth 3-pointers in a two-minute span, cutting the Thunder’s lead to 15 in the fourth quarter.

McCain finished with 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting, including five threes and a steal. For a three-player Deep Thunder team that finished with 15+ points in Sunday’s win, Isaiah Joe’s 20 points (five threes) led the second unit, and Alex Caruso added 17 points, the trio combined for 52 points, including 11 threes. That was enough support to keep the Timberwolves away.

Then, Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished his 128th consecutive 20+ point game, scoring a 3-point game in the final minutes that brought him to 20 points. He also finished with 10 assists, two steals and a block. The Thunder have won eight consecutive games, including hard-fought victories against the Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets during their four-game home stand.

What Mark Daigneault has learned about the Thunder’s Jared McCain

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault continues to learn about Jared McCann during the second-year guard’s first month with his new team. For Daigneault, it’s McCann’s offense that stands out the most, as he fits in seamlessly with his new Thunder teammates.

“His shooting ability. He’s a guy you have to make runs off the line, which opens up some of those drives. I didn’t know his game well, especially that part of his game — those mid-range games show his strength,” Daigneault said. “He’s going downhill, and he’s able to absorb contact and rise up and shoot a balanced rhythm shot, which is harder than it looks. He makes it look easier than it is. So, he’s done a great job.”

McCann has made at least one 3-pointer in 14 of his first 15 appearances for the Thunder. He is averaging 11.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 41.2/39.5/89.4 percent shooting splits.

The Detroit Pistons have been fairly healthy for much of the season, which is one reason they remain on top of the Eastern Conference. There are some players who have had long-term issues, and one of them is Isaiah Stewart, as he has been dealing with a calf injury.

Head coach JB Bickerstaff recently spoke about Stewart’s injury, which has been bothering him for some time.

“It’s something he’s dealing with. It’s getting worse. He destroyed it in the last game and I think you could see he was favoring it late … It’s something we’re going to take time with,” Bickerstaff said, via Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press.

It is uncertain how long Stewart may be sidelined, but the expectation is that it won’t be for long. If that’s the case, the Pistons will have to rely on their depth to overcome his absence, and that means Jalen Duren may also see an increase in minutes.

It’s safe to say that Stewart has been the enforcer for the Pistons ever since he’s been on the team, and he’s willing to protect his team by any means necessary. He recently opened up about where he gets his mentality to hit the floor.

“I’ll just say I’m very competitive and I look at the court like we’re going to war,” Stewart said on The Young Man and The Three podcast. “I know the other team is trying to get our heads down. So, it’s like an upset, like I’ve got something to defend. I’m just proud. I’m not going to lie down and give you an easy game.

“It shows that they don’t know me, and just in a moment they start judging me. I’ve had a lot of different teammates that I’ve competed against that didn’t like me, then they come to Detroit, it’s just like a threat, Stu is different. It’s great to have him as a teammate as a brother.”

CJ McCollum has been a big reason for the Atlanta Hawks’ success since the All-Star break, and the numbers show it. The Hawks are on a nine-game winning streak, and at this point they are only concerned with trying to keep this momentum going and move up in the Eastern Conference standings.

At the same time, there are questions that will need to be answered at the end of the season, one of which is regarding McCallum’s future with the team. The veteran guard’s contract is expiring, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he had multiple suitors when free agency opens.

McCollum was asked by NBA insider Jake Fisher if he would welcome the opportunity to return to the Hawks, and his response was priceless.

“It’s not up to me, my friend,” McCallum said.

Fisher then talked about the options that McCollum would have, assuming a team that needs a scoring guard offers the same amount of money as the Hawks do.

“I love it here, man,” McCallum said. “I’m here for a reason. We’ll see. But right now, it’s about playing winning basketball and building on what we’ve done and piling up wins and piling up winning habits.”

For now, McCullum is focused on what’s in front of him and trying to make the playoffs. After his 30-point game against the Milwaukee Bucks, he mentioned that he was willing to do whatever it took to help the team.

“I’m just doing my job,” McCallum said. “When I came here I told them, whatever you guys need me to do, I’ll do. Come off the bench, start. Whatever it takes to be successful. I think for us it’s just been about timing, doing things the right way at the right time. And we have a good homestand.”

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently made history by breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s streak of scoring at least 20 points in consecutive games. In the next game after breaking the record, the incredible streak found itself in serious danger.

The reigning NBA MVP was well below the 20-point mark in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s contest with the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, as they have done repeatedly during the streak, they turned it on in the final 12 minutes. Gilgeous-Alexander eventually drained a jumper after a foul on Anthony Edwards late in the fourth before sinking a free throw and scoring 20 points for his 128th consecutive game.

The Thunder already had the game in hand, and SGA gave a hearty applause after seeing their squad close in on a 116–103 victory over their Western Conference rivals.

Gilgeous-Alexander only had 10 points in the fourth quarter, so he really had to step things up to keep the historic streak going.

Although he still got 20 points, it was far from Gilgeous-Alexander’s best performance in Sunday’s win over Minnesota. The MVP favorite shot just 7 of 22 from the field to score his 20 points, but he added 10 assists in the process.

This is a big win in the standings for the Thunder, who are still trying to avoid the Spurs for the top seed in the Western Conference playoff picture. With the Pistons struggling a bit at the top of the Eastern Conference, the top seed in the West will likely mean home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been one of the most consistent forces in basketball throughout the season and over the past few years, and this streak is a perfect example of that. Even on his worst days, he can keep it going and that’s what he showed on Sunday.

Recently, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddy made history when he recorded his 29th triple double as a member of the team, surpassing the legendary Michael Jordan on the all-time list for this category. The impressive feat comes amid a difficult season for the Bulls, which continued with losses against the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers last week.

One person who wasn’t a fan of the Bulls’ social media team posting giddy climbs behind Jordan was franchise icon Ron Harper, who was Jordan’s teammate on several championship runs in Chicago during the 1990s.

“Please stop posting stupid things!!!!!” “X,” Harper, formerly of the Bulls, wrote in the comments section on Twitter.

“Games today are BS and things are posted that make no sense (expletive) You’re just fooling yourself with these stats on bad teams,” he said.

In fact, some have pointed out that factors such as the increased speed of basketball, as well as the increased prevalence of the three-point shot, have led to increased statistics in today’s game compared to previous generations.

Others have accused Giddy of being an “empty calorie” player who can put up impressive statistics on a bad team, but cannot be a true number one option on a contender.

Still, it’s an impressive accomplishment for the former lottery pick, who is nearing the end of his second season in the Windy City after being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder ahead of the 2024-25 season. Giddy and Matas Buzelis have formed an interesting young duo for the Bulls over the past two years, and Chicago will hopefully be able to add another talented young duo to the mix in June if the lottery balls go their way.

The Dallas Mavericks travel to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road on Sunday, and veteran guard Klay Thompson is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. Thompson hasn’t been playing in back-to-back games recently, and the Mavericks game against the Cavs is the first of a back-to-back set. Here’s everything we know about Klay Thompson’s injury and his playing status against the Cavs.

Klay Thompson’s injury status vs. Cavs

Given that Thompson is questionable on the injury report for the Mavericks against the Cavs, the assumption is that he will not suit up on Sunday. He is listed with the ‘rest’ designation, which suggests the Mavericks would like to have him available for the second end of the team’s back-to-back against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.

Thompson is in his 13th full season in the NBA. He has made a remarkable comeback after missing two consecutive seasons from 2019-2021. He has appeared in 59 games this season, including eight starts, averaging just over 21 minutes per game.

Thompson averaged a career-low 11.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists while splitting 39.2 percent shooting from the field, 38 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 75 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

So when the question comes whether Klay Thompson is playing today, the answer is probably no.

mavericks injury report

-Moussa Cisse doubtful (G League two-way)
-Daniel Gafford doubtful (illness)
-Kyrie Irving out (left knee surgery)
-Derek Lively II out (right foot surgery)
-Caleb Martin probable (left finger sprain)
-John Poulakidas questionable (G League two-way)
Tyler Smith questionable (G League two-way)
-Klay Thompson Questionable (Remaining)
-PJ Washington Probable (sore left ankle)

Cavs injury report

-Jarrett Allen out (right knee tendonitis)
-Keion Ellis available (fracture of left index finger)
-James Harden available (right thumb fracture)
-Sam Merrill out (left hamstring tightness)
-Craig Porter Jr. out (left groin strain)
-Tyrese Proctor out (right quadricep strain)
-Maximum stress potential (Jones fracture surgery of left foot)
-Jaylon Tyson questionable (sore left ankle).

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the hottest teams in the league as they are riding a nine-game losing streak, their longest since the 2014-2015 season. It seems like everyone on the team is clicking at the right time, and Jalen Johnson has been the head of the snake, doing almost everything on the court.

At the beginning of the season, there were rumors about the Hawks whether they would consider Johnson for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but they were quickly shut down. Rich Paul also weighed in on the rumors and suggested that the Milwaukee Bucks should trade for Johnson.

“If I’m the Bucks, I’m looking at a young player, high character, high talent, high IQ,” Paul said on his show with Max Kellerman. “I’m calling Atlanta. I want Jalen Johnson. He’s from Milwaukee.”

Johnson claims he heard the rumors, but according to NBA insider Jake Fisher, the Hawks’ front office immediately reminded him that they were not going to trade him.

“It was probably the first time in my career [hearing] Rumors and things like that,” Johnson said. “But I got assurances from everyone here that that’s not the plan. Obviously, it means a lot… his trust in me and his belief in me.”

It seems like the Hawks did the right thing by retaining Johnson, and he’s set to be a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come. This season, Johnson averaged 23.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.0 assists, and was an All-Star for the first time. It would not be a surprise if at the end of the season, he is on the All-NBA team, which would be a huge accomplishment for him.

Johnson and the Hawks still have a lot of work to accomplish as they continue to try to top the Eastern Conference during the season.

The Milwaukee Bucks will host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday and Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. Antetokounmpo is dealing with an ankle sprain, and he was ruled out of the team’s recent game against the Atlanta Hawks. Everything we know about Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury and his playing status heading into the Bucks’ game against the Pacers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury status vs. Pacers

Given that Sunday’s game against the Bucks is the second night in a row, it’s possible that Antetokounmpo will be able to suit up and play. He struggled with a calf injury that kept him out for 15 consecutive matches, before returning in early March.

Antetokounmpo has been limited to just 35 games so far this season due to injury. He is averaging 27.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 62.8 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the 3-point line and 64.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Given that he is questionable for the Bucks’ game, this will likely be a game-time decision as far as his playing status is concerned.

bucks injury report

-Alex Antetokounmpo out (G League two-way)
– Giannis Antetokounmpo questionable (sprained left ankle).
-Ousman Dieng doubtful (illness).
-Kevin Porter Jr. out (right knee synovitis)
-Bobby Portis doubtful (back strain)
-Cormac Ryan Available (G League Two-Way)
-Myles Turner doubtful (right patella tendinitis)

pacers injury report

-Johnny Furphy out (right ACL tear)
-Tyrese Haliburton out (right Achilles tendon rupture)
-Quenton Jackson questionable (right calf strain).
-TJ McConnell questionable (sore right hamstring).
-Andrew Nembhard doubtful (right calf injury)
-Aaron Nesmith questionable (right ankle injury management)
-Talon Peter Questionable (G League Two-Way)
-Ben Shepard doubtful (left ankle sprain)
-Pascal Siakam questionable (right knee sprain)
-Jalen Slauson Questionable (G League Two-Way)
-Ethan Thompson questionable (G League two-way)
-Obi Toppin questionable (right foot injury management).
-Ivica Zubac doubtful (left ankle sprain)

On Saturday evening, the Denver Nuggets suffered their biggest loss of the season with an overtime road loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers. It appeared that the Nuggets had the game wrapped up by the end of regulation, but Lakers guard Austin Reaves engineered a perfectly executed missed free throw, which he then rebounded and scored to tie the game.

After the game, Nuggets head coach David Edelman explained what happened in the game.

“It’s one of those things that’s 100 in the NBA,” Edelman said, according to Bennett Durando of the Denver Post, formerly of Twitter. “It happened. You give them credit. But there were a lot of things that led to it that we could have done differently, maybe better.”

Some criticized the Nuggets for not placing a fourth player in the lane to join in the rebounding action for Reaves’ second free throw, which went straight to an empty area of ​​the paint, where another Denver player could have been deployed had they so chosen.

A loss to Los Angeles would likely erase the good vibes from Denver’s recent solid win over the San Antonio Spurs, even without Victor Wembanyama.

It was a particularly brutal game for shooting guard Jamal Murray, who scored only five points and was shut out of the contest, a full 180 points from his usual dominance against the Lakers in recent years.

The Nuggets are currently 41-27, and are just a game and a half away from the Phoenix Suns to avoid the play-in tournament in the Western Conference.

The Nuggets now have a few days off before they next face off at home against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday evening.

On Saturday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers picked up one of the biggest wins of the 2025-26 NBA season with a thrilling overtime win over the Denver Nuggets. It looked like the Lakers were dying for possession in the final seconds of regulation, but Austin Reaves’ intentionally missed free throws were executed to perfection, and Luka Doncic ultimately won things for Los Angeles in the extra frame.

After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick attempted to expand his vocabulary to explain how the Lakers are coming together at the right time.

“Is ‘coalesces’ a word? Is it the right word? To come together?”. Redick asked, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I think it feels like we’re coming together pretty well right now. There’s still a long way to go, but definitely optimistic about how we’ve handled this run of games. … It’s big time.”

The Lakers are currently on a five-game winning streak, and have suffered losses to some tough competition, including both the Nuggets and New York Knicks last week. The questions about the Lakers’ defense are beginning to subside, as Los Angeles has played some better basketball on that end of the floor amid its winning streak.

Los Angeles currently sits in third place in the Western Conference, the same spot where they finished the regular season a year ago, and as the NBA Playoffs approach, the team certainly looks to be playing its best basketball at the right time.

It also helps that Los Angeles remains mostly healthy, as Reeves, Doncic and LeBron James are getting a chance to consistently share the floor for the first time all season.

Los Angeles will take the field for the first of two road games versus the Houston Rockets on Monday evening.

On Saturday night, the Los Angeles Lakers picked up their fifth consecutive win with a narrow home win over the Denver Nuggets in overtime. Los Angeles needed some late-game magic to pull it off, including a tying shot from Austin Reaves in regulation and a game-winner from Luka Doncic in the extra frame.

It was also a solid night for LeBron James, who scored 17 points with six rebounds and five assists, but the play that drew the most attention was a full-out dive for the basketball in the closing minutes to help save possession for Los Angeles.

LeBron is putting his body on the line!!!!

This man is about 50 years old 😭😭😭

pic.twitter.com/RWJLA6wXh7

– LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) 15 March 2026

After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick reacted to the game.

“I told [James] After the game, I said, ‘In 23 years of watching you play in the NBA, in the three years I watched you play in high school, I’ve never seen you do a full-out extension dive like that,’ Redick said, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “He said, ‘You’re right, I’ve never done that.'”

Truly, it was an epic game, especially for a 41-year-old with 23 years of NBA mileage on his body.

The win moved the Lakers into third place in the Western Conference as the 2025–26 NBA season nears its home stretch, and it also gave them their fifth consecutive win overall. Los Angeles has been playing some better basketball over the past few weeks, especially on the defensive end, which is the area that has given them the most trouble over the past two seasons.

Los Angeles will take the field on Monday evening for the first of a two-game road set against the Houston Rockets, which could be a potential playoff matchup next month.

On Sunday afternoon, the Indiana Pacers will hit the road to take on the Milwaukee Bucks. Pascal Siakam is currently listed as questionable on the injury report for this game due to a right knee sprain. Everything we know about Siakam’s injury and his playing status against the Bucks.

Watch NBA games live with fuboTV (Get access save $30)*

Bucks vs Pascal Siakam game status

Given his questionable designation on the injury report, it seems unlikely that Pascal Siakam will suit up for Indiana on Sunday in Milwaukee. To say that the Pacers have a lot of injury reports for this game would be an understatement, as the team currently has ten players listed as doubtful for the match.

These include Quenton Jackson, TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Peter Taillon, Ben Sheppard, Jalen Slauson, Ethan Thompson, Obi Toppin and Ivica Zubac.

Meanwhile, the Bucks have yet to submit their injury report, as they are coming off their second consecutive loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

Zubac’s inclusion on the injury report is notable, as the big man finally made his long-awaited Pacers debut last week in a home game against the Phoenix Suns, having been acquired by the Los Angeles Clippers before the trade deadline.

Indiana has been in full tank mode the past several weeks, regularly sitting with several key players per night, and hasn’t won a game since the All-Star break. This is a tremendous effort from Indiana to add another star talent this offseason to help the team join in next year when Tyrese Haliburton returns from his Achilles injury.

The Pacers and Bucks will tip off in Milwaukee at 3:30 PM ET.

The Los Angeles Lakers won an overtime thriller against the Denver Nuggets, and it all started with what Austin Reaves was able to do at the end of regulation. Down two points, Reeves missed his free-throw to the left, and he was able to recover the ball. He ran down the baseline and hit a floater to tie the game and send the game into overtime.

Before going into overtime, Reeves was seen holding a basketball and saying, “I love you.”

“I love you.”

This clip of Austin Reeves after game-saving play shows why we’re basketball fans 👏pic.twitter.com/27makmBSZi

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 15 March 2026

The Lakers won the game when Luka Doncic used his clutch gene to sink a shot that gave them two points with .5 seconds remaining. The Nuggets didn’t have enough time to get a clean shot, and the rest was history.

After the game, Reeves was asked about talking the basketball at the end of regulation.

“I don’t really say much about the ball. It’s usually bad words. It’s usually when it’s not doing the right thing,” Reeves said, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

Austin Reeves on viral clip of saying “I love you” to the basketball at the end of the game: “I don’t really say that to the ball a lot. It’s usually bad words. It’s usually when it’s not doing the right thing.” pic.twitter.com/yQrDsdvanu

-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 15 March 2026

It was the perfect scenario for Reeves, and it was almost as if he knew the ball was going to fall straight into his hands.

With the win, the Lakers now have the tiebreaker over the Nuggets, and that’s important as the Western Conference becomes competitive once again. The Lakers are still in the No. 3 seed in the West, and they may not have a chance to go much further than that, as they are seven games behind the San Antonio Spurs.

The Lakers are clicking at the right time, and they have two games coming up against the Houston Rockets that are important for standings purposes. If the big three of Reeves, Doncic and LeBron James can continue to play during the season, they should be able to keep their hands on the No. 3 seed.

On Saturday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers continued their winning ways with an impressive home win in overtime over the Denver Nuggets. After Austin Reaves brought the game into extra period with some heroics late in regulation, Luka Doncic won things for Los Angeles with the game winner in the final frame, giving the Lakers their fifth consecutive win in the process.

There was a playoff-like atmosphere at Crypto.com Arena for most of the evening, and after the game, Doncic made sure to give a shout-out to the fans in attendance for the matchup.

X, formerly on Twitter According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Doncic said, “I felt like it was the best environment because I’ve been a Laker… I had goosebumps.”

Indeed, there were several notable “crowd pops” on ESPN’s broadcast of the game, including perhaps the loudest when Doncic’s final jumper found the bottom of the net with .5 on the clock in overtime.

At times it felt like this game was following the familiar script of many Lakers vs. Nuggets matchups over the years, with Los Angeles getting off to a strong start, Denver eventually taking control late, and things going down to the wire. However, in most cases, it seems like the Nuggets made the biggest plays during the game and won, but that was not the case on Saturday night, as Los Angeles produced several great performances to pick up the win.

It also helped matters that legendary Lakers killer Jamal Murray only scored five points in this one and ultimately fouled out.

The win allowed the Lakers to move back into third place in the vaunted Western Conference. They will take the field on Monday evening for the first set of two games against the Houston Rockets.

The Minnesota Timberwolves face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals. Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is on the injury report again with right knee soreness.

Here’s everything we know about Edwards’ playing status.

Anthony Edwards’ game status against the Thunder

Edwards has been dealing with a long-standing knee problem but hasn’t missed any time. The Timberwolves star was also listed as questionable for Friday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, but he played and finished with 42 points in the loss. The knee certainly didn’t bother him much in that 127-117 win.

Edwards told The Athletic’s Sam Amick after the win over the Warriors that he’s fine, and Timberwolves insider John Krawczynski of The Athletic expects him to play in Sunday’s game. Given the high-profile opponent on national TV, it’s a good bet that Edwards will suit up.

Minnesota is also vying for a spot in a crowded Western Conference playoff picture. The Timberwolves are 41–26, good for fifth place in the West. The Wolves are one game behind the third-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, half a game behind the Houston Rockets and half a game ahead of the Denver Nuggets. Perhaps most importantly, Minnesota is two games ahead of the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns.

Edwards is having another standout season, averaging a career-high 29.7 points while posting career-best shooting percentages of 49.4% overall and 40.2% from 3-point range. So, when the question comes whether Anthony Edwards is playing against the Thunder today, the answer is probably yes.

timberwolves injury report

Aside from Edwards, all of the other Timberwolves included on the injury report are G Leaguers.

• Jon Berninger (out, G League – on assignment)
• Anthony Edwards (doubtful, injury/illness – sore right knee)
• Enrique Freeman (out, G League – two-way)
• Julian Phillips (out, G League – on assignment)
• Zion Pullin (Out) G League – Two-Way)

thunderbolt injury report

The Thunder are still without Jalen Williams, while starting center Isaiah Hartenstein is questionable with a calf injury.

• Brooks Barnheiser (Out, G League – Two-Way)
• Brandon Carlson (out, injury/illness – lower back strain)
• Isaiah Hartenstein (doubtful, injury/illness – left calf; injury)
• Thomas Sorber (out, injury/illness – right ACL; surgical recovery)
• Nicola Topic (out, G League – on assignment)
• Jalen Williams (out, injury/illness – right hamstring)

Timberwolves-Thunder kick off at 1pm ET.

On Saturday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers continued their winning ways with an impressive home win in overtime over the Denver Nuggets. It wasn’t always rosy for the Lakers, but ultimately, they took the game to extra frames thanks to great play from Austin Reaves and then won it on a late Luka Doncic jumper.

At one point in the game, a heartwarming moment occurred when a young fan was caught showing off his enthusiasm for the game on the Crypto.com Arena jumbotron.

a legend pic.twitter.com/KE9tJ7cRno

– Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) 15 March 2026

After the game, the kid got a shoutout from none other than LeBron James himself.

“It was a great atmosphere. … That little kid on the Jumbotron was definitely — I saw there — I think he’s the reason we won tonight,” James, formerly of the Ax, said, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin on Twitter.

The young fan wasn’t the only one thrilled by what he saw Saturday, as Los Angeles picked up its fifth consecutive win against a quality opponent in Denver.

The Lakers’ defense, which has been seen as a reason for the team not being taken seriously as a contender this year, has started to play some better basketball over the past few weeks, with JJ Redick’s strategy appearing to be to get LeBron James off the ball as much as possible so he doesn’t have to expend so much energy on the 41-year-old.

The results have paid off so far, as Los Angeles is currently the number three seed in the Western Conference, the same spot where they finished the regular season last year.

The Lakers will hope that their playoff result this time will be a little different from last year’s gentlemen’s sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Los Angeles Lakers got a big win over the Denver Nuggets in overtime and they had to go through a lot of drama to get there. Austin Reeves intentionally missed his free throws at the end of regulation and was able to make a floater to get the ball back and tie the game.

At the end of overtime, Luka Doncic had the ball in his hands and did what he does best, making clutch shots. The Nuggets didn’t have enough time to get clean shots, and a game that looked like they were going to win turned into a Lakers win.

After the game, LeBron James spoke highly of Doncic and his ability to make clutch shots, and there will be more from him in the future.

James said, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, “Just a big shot by a generational player. … We wanted the last shot. We wanted to get the ball in our guy’s hands. So, this will be the first of many game winners for him and in a Lakers uniform.”

“Just a big shot by a generational player. … We wanted the last shot. We wanted to put the ball in our guy’s hands. So, this is going to be the first of many game winners for him and in a Lakers uniform.” – LeBron James on Luka Doncic’s game winner pic.twitter.com/UhTsEIovS6

-Dave McMenamin (@mcten) 15 March 2026

Doncic has never been afraid to take the big shot, and more often than not, he nails it. James knows what his guy is capable of and probably doesn’t mind giving him one last shot at the end of every game.

With the win, the Lakers have the tiebreaker over the Nuggets, which is big as the Western Conference standings continue to tighten toward the end of the season.

The Lakers have played well last week, and they are making progress at the right time to be in a good position when the season ends. As long as they have a closer like Doncic, they should be in good shape moving forward.

The Los Angeles Lakers not only beat the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night; He defeated them. While Luka Doncic made headlines with his game-winning block, the Lakers had that edge thanks to the high-IQ game of Austin Reaves and some veteran guidance from Marcus Smart.

With the game hanging in the balance, Reeves found himself at the charity stripe. Instead of the usual routine, Smart pulled the young guard aside with some very specific instructions.

“I told him to miss it,” Smart explained after the 127-125 overtime win. “I said listen, don’t go out there, don’t do your routine. As soon as you get the ball, one dribble if anything, but shoot it quickly. Nobody’s expecting it, they’re not going to have time to time it.”

“He read one side well.”

Marcus Smart on Austin Reeves’ heads-up play at the free throw line

(via @SpectrumSN)pic.twitter.com/uKBo2vbZXS

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 15 March 2026

Reeves executed the plan to perfection. He deliberately suppressed free throws, caught the Nuggets off guard, and “read the single side” forcing the Los Angeles Lakers to tie the game and force overtime. It was the kind of savvy play that doesn’t always show up in the box score but wins games against elite competition like Denver.

The game capped a great night for Reeves, who led all scorers with 32 points on an efficient shooting performance of 12-of-21. His backcourt partner, Smart, was equally important, providing 21 points and five steals while serving as a defensive orchestrator. Their combined efforts supported Doncic’s 30-point triple-double and helped neutralize Nikola Jokic’s 24-point, 16-rebound masterclass.

For head coach JJ Redick, it’s a dream to see his veteran leader and rising star collaborate on such a nuanced game. The Lakers are proving they have more than just star power; He has the situational awareness needed to grind out tough matches against the best players in the West.

Kawhi Leonard suffered an apparent ankle injury during the Los Angeles Clippers’ clash with the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night.

Leonard is in the 15th season of his NBA career, his seventh with the Clippers. He continues to shine as one of the top veteran stars in the league, wowing crowds with his elite two-way skills.

However, injuries have prevented him from reaching his true heights. And they have been exposed once again as Leonard suffered a left ankle injury in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. This happened when he lost his balance and fell to the ground after trying to save an opposing player in defence. According to reporter Tomer Azarly, he went to the locker room because the team had decided he would miss the remainder of the game.

“Kawhi Leonard is out for the remainder of the Clippers-Kings game with a left ankle injury,” Azzarli wrote.

How the Clippers played against the Kings amid Kawhi Leonard’s injury

The Clippers sorely missed Kawhi Leonard’s presence in the fourth quarter. They lost 34–26 in that frame as they lost to the Kings by a final score of 118–109.

Four players scored in double figures for Los Angeles in the loss, including Leonard. He led the way with a stat line of 31 points, six rebounds and two steals. He made 13 of 23 shots from the field, including 2 of 6 from beyond the arc and 3 of 6 from the free-throw line. Darius Garland came next with 25 points and seven assists, Benedict Mathurin had 24 points and six rebounds, while John Collins provided 10 points and three rebounds.

Los Angeles fell to a 33–32 record on the season, finishing eighth in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers while trailing the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets.

The Clippers will look to bounce back in their next game at home. They will host the San Antonio Spurs as tip-off takes place on March 16 at 10 pm ET.

MIAMI – As the Miami Heat saw the return of Norman Powell and Tyler Herro, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Orlando Magic on Saturday night, losing 121-117. The Heat had major momentum after Bam Adebayo scored a historic 83 points on Tuesday and won seven straight games on Thursday, a streak that was snapped, albeit in an instance that left teammates angry.

Although Miami struggled in the first half, with Orlando jumping out to a 22-point lead, the team returned to its strength on both sides of the ball in the second half, making it a close game with less than a minute left in the contest. The game-changing moment was when the Heat were down four points with 36.6 seconds left in the game as Pelle Larsson inbounded the ball.

After Larson did not blow the referee’s whistle, Miami called for a five-second violation, with the team clearly upset by the decision.

pic.twitter.com/XzNeAqrclL

– /r/Heat (@tomgreen99200) 15 March 2026

With the team and officiating working on it all night, Adebayo had a strong message, calling out the referee who “changed” the game.

“As for the call, it felt like it was swift. That’s what’s frustrating about it, because if we say anything about it we get fined,” Adebayo told ClutchPoints. “But it changed the game. And when you change the game, you’ve got to stick with it.”

“Then on the other side, I felt like they had a five-second call that wasn’t called. Changed the game,” Adebayo continued. “They influence the game in a way that sometimes has an impact, and they get to go home and sleep peacefully, and we’re talking about a call here that you feel should have been called or wasn’t called.”

Asked Bam Adebayo about the controversial five-second call and the second half.

“The disappointing thing is that if we say anything about it we get fined, but it changed the game. When you change the game you have to stick to it…” #HeatNation

Full response: pic.twitter.com/8xKFrU3XTd

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

Heat’s Norman Powell says controversial call by refs was “BS”

Heat players raised their voices about the five-second violation, though they all mentioned how the team suffered in the first half, especially when the Magic were allowed to score 41 points, shooting nearly 70 percent from the field in the first quarter. Still, the violation was a stifling call that took away momentum from Miami, such that the call could have been considered a toss-up; Many on the Heat believe this decision was made too quickly.

Star Norman Powell spoke openly about his displeasure with the call, after scoring 20 points off the bench in his return after missing seven games due to a groin strain, telling ClutchPoints that the five-second violation was “BS.”

“It was so fast we didn’t even get through our first two options before they called a five-second violation,” Powell said. “And late in the game, we tried to get them the ball inbounds, they allowed them to call timeout when it was obviously longer than our five-second call. So, we just got frustrated when we were trying to figure out how we could steal the game on the inbounds.”

Norman Powell was asked about repeated calls with referees, particularly the controversial five-second call:

“I thought the five-second call was BS…” #HeatNation

Full response: pic.twitter.com/Hg8H0euAwx

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

Another player who returned from injury, this time missing two contests due to quadriceps soreness, was Tyler Herro. Finishing the game with 10 points on a disappointing shooting night, he agreed it was a quick call, but says the team will “stick with it”.

“I don’t think it was five seconds. It was a quick five,” Herro said. “Obviously, we stepped back and put ourselves in a position to be limited to four, limited to three, reduced to a one-possession game. But we can’t put ourselves in that position.”

Tyler Herro’s full comments after the loss where he talks about five-second violations being quick, the message about Norman Powell’s role with the return and the Heat not having the defensive flair to start: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/45tkLUA0W6

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

Erik Spoelstra on self-inflicted wounds by the Heat

While the Heat had an inspiring win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, the loss against the Magic hurt for a number of reasons, the main one being that Miami has been unable to defeat Orlando in its five games this season. The Magic are just the second team in the last three decades to defeat a team (the Heat) five times in a single season.

While Spoelstra also agreed about the five-second call being harsh, he would discuss how the team positions itself for the referee’s single call as the deciding factor.

“They said it was five seconds. I mean, I haven’t gone through the mechanics of it yet, but it felt like a quick five,” Spoelstra said. “But still, we put ourselves in that position. And defensively in the second half, we made a lot of stands, holding them to 37 percent and 50 points. It was a lot different than that first half.”

Spoelstra continued, “We were getting attacked off the dribble, a lot of them, in one-on-one situations, and then in different ways, then cuts, then transitions, we didn’t set the tone for the game defensively.” “And then the rest of the second half, we had to dig out from behind. We don’t want to get into the habit of allowing teams to score 70 and a half runs on us without any resistance.”

Erik Spoelstra said the five-second violation felt quick, but he said the Heat put themselves in that situation. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/qd9Rq3n2f9

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

The loss to the Heat dropped them to 38-30 on the season, leaving them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, with their next game coming on Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets.

Luka Doncic didn’t have much left in the tank after the Los Angeles Lakers survived a 127-125 overtime marathon against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night. As he walked towards the locker room of the Crypto.com Arena, exhaustion was clearly visible across his face. When asked how he felt after his game-winning heroics, Doncic gave a candid, unfiltered answer that perfectly summed up that night.

“Feeling great, tired,” Doncic said in the tunnel. “Got to rest a bit. Great win though, great win.”

“Great victory.”

Luka Doncic in the tunnel after the Lakers’ escape from overtime.

(via @nba)pic.twitter.com/iGbPpZlNet

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 15 March 2026

The Slovenian superstar earned every bit of that exhaustion. In a game that felt like a heavyweight title fight, Doncic finished with a huge triple-double with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. But it was his activity in the final seconds that defined the game. After burying a clutch stepback jumper to give the Los Angeles Lakers a two-point lead, he switched to Tim Hardaway Jr. and drained a potentially game-winning three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

Luka Doncic reminded the entire NBA why the Los Angeles Lakers are the team to beat in the Western Conference. The Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets 127-125 in an overtime thriller Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena. While the box score highlights a huge team effort, the night belonged to Doncic. He produced a ruthless game-winner followed by a defensive stop that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.

Luka Doncic for the win 🤯pic.twitter.com/cbtnkMur28

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 15 March 2026

The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t make it easy for themselves. After letting a lead slip late in regulation, they traded haymakers to a Denver Nuggets team led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The energy inside the arena reached fever pitch as both teams refused to blink in the extra period.

But as the game became tied, Doncic took charge. With less than 7 seconds remaining, the Slovenian superstar buried a stepback jumper to put the Lakers up by two.

Denver had one last chance to steal the victory. The ball reached Tim Hardaway Jr., who had already scored 20 points off the bench for the Nuggets. Hardaway Jr. rose up for a potential game-winning three-pointer, but Doncic met him at the summit. The Lakers’ point guard blocked the attempt as the buzzer sounded, capping his triple-double performance with a rare defensive highlight.

Luka Doncic finished the evening with 30 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. Got a lot of help from them also. Austin Reeves was fantastic, leading all scorers with 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting. Marcus Smart also turned back the clock, scoring 21 points and a staggering five steals to keep Denver’s offense unbalanced. For the Nuggets, Jokic was his usual dominant self, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lakers’ star power. With the win, Los Angeles continues its lead at the top of the standings.

The Boston Celtics have made a contract decision involving one of their two-way players. Luckily for rookie Max Shulga, he was the player who got his first standard contract.

According to ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania, Shulga signed a two-year contract with the Celtics on Saturday. Boston got the young guard in the second round of the 2025 draft, acquiring him from the Orlando Magic.

“The Boston Celtics are signing two-way forward Max Shulga to a standard two-year contract. The Ukrainian guard went to Boston with the No. 57 pick in last June’s NBA draft and has spent the season with Maine in the G League,” Charania wrote, sources told ESPN.

Shulga has made cameos in his rookie season, appearing in three games in which he played 1.7 minutes per contest. He attempted only one shot in that limited time and committed two fouls.

The Boston Celtics are signing two-way forward Max Shulga to a standard two-year contract, sources tell ESPN. The Ukrainian guard went to Boston with the No. 57 pick in last June’s NBA draft and has spent the season with Maine in the G League. pic.twitter.com/5eMzxLS8VO

– Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) 15 March 2026

What’s next for the Celtics after the latest signing?

This is great news for Max Shulga signing his first non-two-way contract as he now earns a higher salary with the Celtics. This allows him to gain a roster spot because it now paves the way for another player to take the open two-way spot.

Shulga played five seasons throughout his collegiate career, representing Utah State and VCU. He enjoyed his best years in his later years, transforming into an elite sharpshooter as he helped the Rams reach the NCAA Tournament in his final season. He averaged 15 points, 5.9 rebounds and four assists on 38.7% shooting from deep in the 2024–25 NCAA season.

Boston compiled a 44–23 record on the season and finished second in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers while trailing the Detroit Pistons.

After Saturday’s win over the Washington Wizards, the Celtics will look forward to their next matchup. They will be at home when they host the Phoenix Suns on March 16 at 7:30 pm ET.

After watching San Antonio Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama turn in another impressive performance in a 115-102 win against the Charlotte Hornets, Keldon Johnson had an announcement about his teammate. With all the hype about Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo’s historic 83-point game, Metta World Peace believes Wembanyama can score 101. The veteran defender would probably agree with one of Wembley’s teammates.

Johnson labeled Vembanyama best and most valuable player In the NBA, per NBA Prime.

“The best player in the world. The MVP. If anyone else has anything to say, come to me.”

“The best player in the world. The MVP. If anyone else has anything to say, come to me.” ???

Keldon Johnson botching the Wembley interview is everything 😆 pic.twitter.com/bKL4NamFnY

– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 14 March 2026

Vembanayama led the Spurs with 32 points on 13-for-24 shooting, including 5-10 from deep, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and two steals. Keldon Johnson’s 13 points led the Spurs’ bench, and De’Aaron Fox added 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

While Wembanyama is a favorite to win this year’s Defensive Player of the Year, he is behind Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets All-Star Nikola Jokic for MVP.

Victor Wembanyama’s MVP, DPOY dreams after Spurs win

Spurs All-Star Victor Wembanyama discusses the MVP and DPOY awards after Saturday’s win against the Hornets. Making his goals clear, Vembanyama Expected to win both awards for the 2025-26 season, he said during his postgame interview with NBA on Prime.

“Right now I’m taking great care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well. So I’m just trying to stay in good spirits from now until the end of the season.”

Wembley:

“Right now I’m taking a lot of care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well. So I’m just trying to keep my spirits up from now until the end of the season.” pic.twitter.com/0otDre8gp1

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 14 March 2026

The Spurs will face the Clippers on Monday.

MIAMI – As the buzz around the Miami Heat is that Bam Adebayo scored a historic 83 points against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, there are a lot of positives to take away as the team enters Saturday on a seven-game winning streak. The Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday after Adebayo scored 83 points, with second-year guard Pelle Larsson leading the team on a career night.

Spoelstra said before the game that after Adebayo scored 83 points, that type of outing is likely to motivate the players in the locker room to step up. What Larsson did on Thursday is really impressing all season long, being a mainstay in the starting lineup as Saturday marks his 44th chance to start a game against the Magic.

On Thursday against the Bucks, Larsson scored a career-high 28 points on nine of 14 from the field, two of three from deep, six rebounds and six assists. He even hit the three that put Milwaukee out of the game, which shows how “reliable” he is, as Erik Spoelstra reiterated.

“He’s gaining more trust and confidence as the season goes on. Now. He’s been really reliable from day one. There was a huge leap of improvement last year,” Spoelstra told ClutchPoints. “I would say the last six weeks of the season, and then going into the summer, led them to have a great training camp in the preseason.”

“And then from there, you know, he just kept forcing us to play him,” Spoelstra continued. “You know, he’s coming off the bench or starting. It doesn’t matter. He’s just got to be on the court because he does a lot of winning things. And then, you know, his work ethic is also helping him improve his offensive skill set, which he saw the other night. And then now, you know, that’s the last element of getting a lot of confidence from the game and playing well.”

Asked Erik Spoelstra about Pelle Larsson and whether he was a surprise to see his jump in Year 2.

“He’s been really reliable from day one, with a big leap in improvement in the last six weeks of the season last year…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/zdQBwUJWno

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 14 March 2026

Heat’s Pelle Larsson talks career night after Bam Adebayo’s special game

While the Heat were dealing with an emotional night in which Adebayo made history Tuesday by recording 83 points, the second-highest scoring game in NBA history, the next game on Thursday could have been a trap game. This could have been a frustrating game for Miami as their emotional batteries were not recharged, but it was Larsson who led the team to an eventual victory.

Larsson excelled with his physical ability in creating driving lanes and gaining advantages at the rim, even showcasing his playmaking ability and being active on both sides of the ball. The leap from a dependable player to a former second-round pick has been fun for fans, however Thursday had a different feeling as the 25-year-old entered clutchpoints.

“Yeah, it’s weird, because, like, what we experienced was so out of the ordinary that it was hard to get out of it, the dream, kind of say,” Larson said, referencing Adebayo’s 83-point game. “But very quickly we got into the game, at full speed, at full speed, and then it was easier to play hard and then try to win.”

Pelle Larsson was asked about being one of the players moving forward after Bam Adebayo’s 83-point night, tying for his career night.

“It’s a bit strange because what we experienced was so different from the norm that it was difficult to get over it…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/BEzfIl9VmN

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 13 March 2026

Heat’s Bam Adebayo yells out to teammates at a game after 83-point night

While Larsson led the way for Miami on Thursday, rookie and 19-year-old Kasparus Jacusionis were the other beneficiaries, continuing to show flashes as he scored 18 points on six of 12 shooting from the field, five of 11 from deep, to go with seven rebounds. Adebayo will praise two young players for stepping up.

“Man, I’m thankful for my guys,” Adebayo said after the win over the Bucks. He recorded 21 points and eight rebounds after an 83-point night. “They stepped up massively, especially Pell [Larsson]especially kas [Jakucionis]. They were aggressive, and they were being vocal. They’re open, they’re shooting it, or they’re running it; They’re making the right plays.”

“That’s the thing about our offense. Anybody can cook it. And, you know, tonight it was like Pell and Cass and me in the fourth, I turned it on. But that’s the thing about our offense, man. It’s one of those things, like, you go to jail by sharing the ball, and it makes it harder for the other team,” Adebayo continued.

Bam Adebayo was asked about his 83-point performance, which led Pelle Larsson and Kaspars Jaksionis:

“Man, I’m grateful to my guys. They stepped up in a big way, especially Pele, especially Kass. They were aggressive and they were being vocal…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/0LAukBgnIa

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 13 March 2026

At any rate, the Heat are expecting massive contributions from Larsson and others as the team heads into the home stretch of the season.

The San Antonio Spurs have a stranglehold on the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with 15 games remaining on the regular season schedule. While the team is focused on making the playoffs, it looks like Victor Wembanyama has some lofty MVP and Defensive Player of the Year goals.

During the postgame press conference following the Spurs’ 115-102 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, the 22-year-old center claimed he is making sure to keep his body fit and healthy for the final stretch of the season. He also claimed that he wants to win not only the MVP but also the DPOY this year.

“Right now, I’m taking great care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well,” Vembanyama said. “So, I’m just trying to press the gas from now until the end of the season. Really take care of my treatment, take care of my sleep, take care of my routine and perform for my team.”

Wembley:

“Right now I’m taking a lot of care of my body because I want to win MVP and DPOY as well. So I’m just trying to keep my spirits up from now until the end of the season.” pic.twitter.com/0otDre8gp1

– Oh no, he didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) 14 March 2026

Victor Vembanyama may very well achieve his goal of winning both MVP and DPOY this year. He’s at least making a strong case for his stellar play, averaging 24.2 points, 11.1 rebounds (career-high), 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.0 blocks (league-leader) per game. He is shooting 50.6% from the floor and 36.0% from beyond the three-point line, both career highs.

An MVP and DPOY would be a nice addition to Vembanyama’s trophy case. The third-year veteran already has the Rookie of the Year award for his efforts in the 2023-24 campaign. He was also named to the All-NBA Defensive Team that year. Vembanyama will have the chance to prove he is worthy of the two awards on Monday, March 16. The Spurs are scheduled to take on the Los Angeles Clippers in LA at 7 PM EST.

The Golden State Warriors are scheduled to face the New York Knicks on Sunday night. However, Saturday’s injury report includes a total of 18 players from both the teams. Several players have already been ruled out, while several others are listed as doubtful.

The obvious names like Jimmy Butler (who is out for the season) and Stephen Curry (who is out for at least several more games) are both out for the Warriors. Golden State has a total of eight players ruled out, including Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis, while only Quinton Post is listed as questionable. With this, nine names have been included in the injury report of the Warriors.

Meanwhile, Miles McBride is the only player ruled out of the Knicks’ latest injury report. Eight players have been considered questionable, including Josh Hart and Jeremy Sochan. We probably won’t know exactly who will play for New York until just before Sunday’s game.

Here is the full Warriors injury report.

Jimmy Butler – Out: Right ACL; surgery
Seth Curry – out: left adductor; strain
Stephen Curry – Out: Right patellofemoral; pain syndrome
Draymond Green – Out: Left Low Back; injury management
Al Horford – Out: Right soleus; strain
D’Anthony Melton – Out: left knee; injury management
Moses Moody – Outside: Right wrist; Sprain
Kristaps Porzingis – Out: General; disease management
Quentin Post – Questionable: left ankle; Sprain

Here is Knicks’ full injury report.

Pacom Dadiet – Questionable: G League – On Assignment
Josh Hart – Questionable: left knee; agony
Ariel Hookporti – Questionable: G League – On Assignment
Trey Jameson III – Questionable: G League – Two-Way
Dillon Jones – Questionable: G League – Two-Way
Tyler Kolek – Questionable: G League – On Assignment
Miles McBride – Out: Pelvic; core muscle surgery
Kevin McCullers Jr. – Questionable: G League – Two-Way
Jeremy Sochan – Suspected: Illness; Disease

The Warriors and Knicks are scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. EST. in New York. Golden State aims to snap a four-game losing streak amid injury problems, while New York hopes to win its third straight.

MIAMI – With Miami Heat stars Norman Powell and Tyler Herro set to return together for Saturday’s game against the Orlando Magic, there’s no denying it will make for an interesting transition for head coach Erik Spoelstra. While the Heat have to differentiate the roles of Powell and Herro as Saturday approaches with 15 games left in the season, Spoelstra is relishing the challenge.

Saturday night against the Magic will be the 12th game that Herro and Powell will play together, as both have long battled injuries, especially the former, who has missed 47 games overall. However, Herro was returning to All-Star level since the break, specifically averaging nearly 26 points per game in March.

Powell had missed the last seven games before the Magic clash with a right groin strain, while Herro had been absent for the last two matches due to quadriceps soreness. In his first year with Miami, he led the Heat in scoring with 22.5 points per game, en route to becoming a first-time All-Star, with Bam Adebayo being the team’s main offensive weapon as Herro missed a portion of the time.

“I mean, we felt like we had to do whatever we needed to do the last two games, but guys being healthy and getting back on the court, it’s definitely encouraging, and they’ve both been very good the last few days at attacking the way they needed to attack. And I think they’ll be ready to go,” Spoelstra said.

Erik Spoelstra talks about the progress he’s made in getting Tyler Herro and Norman Powell back in the first video.

In the second video, Spo explains how the duo’s return will affect the rotation and lineup, “We’ll do it the best we can…” #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/9PKHCKs0qU

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 14 March 2026

Heat’s Erik Spoelstra in lineup with Norman Powell, Tyler Herro

Since the Heat can’t rely on Adebayo to score 83 points every game, like his historic night against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, Powell and Herro want to take some weight off his shoulders. However, there is some question whether both Herro and Powell should eventually start together or whether one will come off the bench.

For Spoelstra, the thought process of figuring out rotations and lineups won’t be 100 percent immediately.

“We’ll do it the best way we can think of,” Spoelstra said before Saturday’s game against the Magic. “You know. Is everything going to be OK right now? I don’t know, you know, but now is the time. So it simplifies the definition of the role. We have to do whatever it takes right now to get the job done and get the win. And we need our firepower there.”

Either way, the goal for Miami is simple as they head into the home stretch of the season, which is to avoid the play-in tournament, as the team currently sits in sixth place in the East, having the needed spot to do so.

“I mean, it goes without saying, but right now it’s getting really competitive. You can see pictures of the playoffs. You can see the light in the tunnel, and I think it’s just bringing great competition. And so you’re either about it or you’re not. I think that’s our locker room,” Spoelstra said.

At any rate, the Heat’s upcoming games are important to solidifying their spot in the Eastern Conference as they enter Saturday on a seven-game winning streak. It remains to be seen how Herro and Powell will be utilized in the coming days. After Saturday, Miami will take on the Charlotte Hornets next Tuesday and return home to take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

Dallas Mavericks veteran Klay Thompson is on the team’s injury report ahead of facing the Cleveland Cavs on Sunday. After Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg’s historic night in a 138-105 loss to the Cavs, he’ll likely miss a rematch on the road. Flagg recorded his 25th 20+ point game, passing Hall of Fame guard Kobe Bryant for most 20+ point performances by a teenager.

Thompson is listed as questionable on the Mavericks’ injury report for Sunday’s rematch against the Cavs. He joins center Daniel Gafford, who is battling an illness and is also questionable. Caleb Martin is listed as probable for Dallas.

After a 21-point performance in the Mavericks’ 124-112 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Thompson finished with six points and two rebounds on 3-for-11 shooting in a 138-105 loss to the Cavs on Friday. This season he is averaging 11.8 points on 39.2% shooting, including 38% from deep, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

All-Star Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs will be looking for their first consecutive wins since a seven-game winning streak in February. The Mavericks have lost nine of their last 10 games.

mavericks injury report

Daniel Gafford – Suspect – Illness

Kyrie Irving – Out – Left knee; surgery

Derek Lively II – Outside – right foot; surgery

Caleb Martin – probable – left finger; Sprain

Klay Thompson – Doubtful – Rest

PJ Washington – Out – Left ankle; agony

Cavs injury report

Jarrett Allen – Out – Right knee; tendonitis

Keon Ellis – Available – Left index finger; fracture

James Harden – Available – Right thumb; fracture

Sam Merrill – Out – Left hamstring; tightness

Craig Porter Jr. – Outside – left groin; strain

Tyrese Proctor – right quad; strain

Max Strus – probable – left foot; Surgery-Jones Fracture

Jaylon Tyson – Questionable – Left ankle; agony

The Atlanta Hawks extended their winning streak to nine games with a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday afternoon, a feat the franchise had not accomplished since the 2014–15 season.

Atlanta’s latest win continues the team’s lead through the Eastern Conference and is the franchise’s longest winning streak since the 2014–15 campaign, when the Hawks finished 60–22 and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. The current run has helped Atlanta gain momentum in the playoff race while solidifying its position in the middle of the conference standings.

CJ McCollum led the way offensively against Milwaukee and scored 30 points while adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal. The veteran guard had an efficient performance, shooting 10 of 18 from the field and 7 of 10 from three-point range, while converting 3 of 4 free throws in 27 minutes.

Jalen Johnson had one of the most complete performances of the night, recording a triple-double with 23 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Johnson made 10 of 20 shots from the field, including 2 of 5 from beyond the arc, and added one free throw in 35 minutes, as he helped control the tempo of the game on both ends of the floor.

Atlanta Hawks have won 9 games in a row 🔥

The longest active winning streak in the NBA and the franchise’s longest since the 2014–15 season. pic.twitter.com/BF1leJpc5N

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 March 2026

Nine straight wins have moved the Hawks closer to the Eastern Conference top six

The balanced effort highlighted Atlanta’s recent strong play, which has seen the team return to postseason contention. With the win, the Hawks improved to 36–31 on the season and moved closer to the Miami Heat (38–29), 2.5 games behind the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

Atlanta’s nine-game winning streak currently stands as the longest active streak in the NBA, underscoring the team’s momentum as the regular season enters its final stretch. The Hawks have benefited from improved offensive execution and consistent contributions throughout the roster during the streak.

The team will now look to build on its performance on Monday night when it hosts the Orlando Magic (37-28). The matchup, scheduled for 7:00 pm ET on Peacock and NBCSN, will serve as the final game of Atlanta’s five-game homestand and will have significant playoff implications as the Eastern Conference race tightens.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (41-25) could get a significant boost on Sunday as guard Max Strus is expected to make his season debut against the Dallas Mavericks (22-45).

Cleveland enters the matchup at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV with the possibility of Strus rejoining the lineup following a long recovery from foot surgery. The veteran guard has not appeared in a game this season while rehabilitating a Jones fracture in his left foot.

ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel reported on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday:

“Max Strus, who has not played all season for the Cavs after undergoing surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot, is listed as probable and is expected to make his season debut tomorrow against the Mavericks.”

Strus underwent surgery during the offseason to repair the fracture and has spent several months progressing through the Cavaliers’ rehabilitation program. His return will add another perimeter shooter and playmaking option to Cleveland’s rotation as the team continues its push toward the postseason.

Max Strus nears return as Cavaliers try to build momentum against Mavericks

The 29-year-old wing played a key role for Cleveland last season. During the 2024–25 campaign, Strus averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 50 appearances, including 37 starts. In his second season with the Cavaliers he shot 44.2% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range, while averaging 25.5 minutes per game.

Cleveland entered Sunday’s contest carrying momentum after a 138-105 win over Dallas on Friday night at the American Airlines Center. The win helped the Cavaliers keep the pressure on in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Cavaliers are currently in fourth place in the conference standings and trail the third-seeded New York Knicks (43-25) by 1.5 games.

After Sunday’s matchup with Dallas, Cleveland begins a three-game road trip against the Milwaukee Bucks (27-39) on Tuesday night. The game is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock as the Cavaliers continue their push for a postseason berth.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has missed his team’s last eight games with a right oblique strain. With the 76ers battling for a playoff position, head coach Nick Nurse said the star big man participated in individual on-court workouts on Friday. He said Embiid could return during Philadelphia’s three-game road trip next week.

“He came out yesterday. Obviously not with the team, but he came out for an individual workout. He’s feeling a little better,” Nurse said Saturday before Philadelphia’s 104-97 win over the Brooklyn Nets. “I don’t want to anticipate anything, but I think there’s a possibility [him returning on our upcoming road trip]. Hopefully, he can.”

The 76ers are struggling to avoid the Eastern Conference play-in tournament amid injuries to Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre and suspensions for Paul George.

Joel Embiid nears return from long absence for playoff hopeful 76ers

Philadelphia is 3-5 during Embiid’s latest absence. Meanwhile, Maxi is expected to be out for at least three weeks with a tendon injury in his right pinky. Oubre will be out for at least two weeks with a left elbow sprain, while George is eligible to return from his suspension on March 25.

The 76ers’ recent cold snap has dropped them to eighth place in the Eastern Conference. They are two games behind the sixth-place Miami Heat, 1.5 games behind the seventh-place Toronto Raptors and half a game behind the ninth-place Atlanta Hawks.

Embiid has appeared in only 33 games this season while battling knee, ankle, calf and oblique injuries. The former MVP is averaging 26.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists on .495/.318/.858 shooting splits.

Philadelphia is 21-12 in games Embiid has played and 15-19 in games he has missed.

The Charlotte Hornets may have the NBA’s most prolific three-point shooting duo this season, but rookie guard Kon Nueppel didn’t seem entirely convinced about the nickname suggestion for himself and LaMelo Ball.

During the pregame broadcast before Charlotte’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs on Prime Video on Saturday afternoon, broadcaster Taylor Rooks floated a possible nickname for the pair after Knueppel struggled to come up with a name herself.

Rooks noted how the Golden State Warriors duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson earned the nickname “Splash Brothers” during their peak while leading the league in three-pointers made.

Since Charlotte’s backcourt was also producing from beyond the arc, Rooks suggested the nickname “Buzz Brothers” for Knueppel and Ball.

Knueppel responded in a light-hearted manner.

“What about the Buzz Brothers?” ???

Con Knuppel: “It’s okay.” 😅@TaylorRooks Get creative with Kon Nueppel and LaMelo Ball’s nicknames 🤙 pic.twitter.com/IhW1panTCV

– NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) 14 March 2026

“It’s fine. It’s fine,” he said, laughing.

‘Buzz Brothers’ idea came up when Kon Nueppel, LaMelo Ball led NBA in three-pointers

The moment highlighted the growing chemistry between Charlotte’s young backcourt as both players rank among the league’s most productive shooters from deep.

Entering Saturday’s contest, Knueppel leads the NBA with 233 three-pointers, while Ball is third in the league with 202. Their combined perimeter production has been a key factor in Charlotte’s offensive identity throughout the season.

At halftime of Saturday’s game, San Antonio held a 59-46 lead over Charlotte.

Hall of Fame finalist Blake Griffin is making strides in his first season as a TV analyst, including fun moments like his recent impression of LA Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard. Griffin was added to Prime’s broadcast team in the NBA’s inaugural season and is often the comic relief.

griffin made everyone laugh When he did the best impression of Leonard’s laugh from the Clippers forward’s famous moment during his introduction press conference with the Toronto Raptors, according to NBA on Prime.

Taylor Rooks, Dwyane Wade and John Wall all laughed at Griffin’s impression of the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, causing Griffin to do it more than once.

Blake Griffin opens up about Clippers relationship, prime deal

After Chris Paul and the Clippers went their separate ways, Blake Griffin didn’t express his frustration with the situation. However, Griffin says he still maintains a good relationship with the Clippers organization.

Griffin discussed the Clippers and his new broadcasting career as part of the NBA in an exclusive conversation with Tomer Azzarly of ClutchPoints on Prime.

“I’m still friendly with a lot of the people who work at the organization,” Griffin told ClutchPoints. “I didn’t get a chance to go to the new arena last year, but I’ve talked to Lawrence Frank from time to time and I intend to try to get over there and visit the arena. I mean, it’s definitely not a no-no. I just, I was busy and chasing kids around and I didn’t get a chance to go there. But those fans and that organization definitely hold a special place in my heart.”

As far as his new TV career goes, Griffin is having a lot of fun talking the NBA with some familiar faces.

“It’s incredible to have the opportunity to be on the panel with Eudy, Dirk, Steve, Taylor Rooks,” Griffin said. “So I’m excited.”

The NBA on Prime will air the Bucks-Hawks game on Saturday.

The LA Clippers have played their last seven games without starting forward John Collins, but they appear to be on the verge of getting him back in short order.

Collins has missed the last seven games for the Clippers after suffering a neck strain against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 1. It was the second neck-related injury in 10 days for Collins, who was sidelined for nine days due to a head injury and neck soreness following a scary fall against the Los Angeles Lakers on February 20.

John Collins suffered these two neck injuries within a span of 10 days:

– 1/20/26 – Landed hard on left side of head, avoided injury, but had head injury + neck pain.
– 3/1/26 – In the first game, hits the head/neck on the same left side on a drive and immediately catches… https://t.co/3Aj6WFgQH5 pic.twitter.com/rwzmpnkP32

– Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) 4 March 2026

John Collins hasn’t played a game, but is sitting on the Clippers bench and appears to be in good mood after taking some scary hits to the head. Collins told ClutchPoints that he hopes to return to the court as soon as possible in the next few days.

“I’m feeling good, just trying to get back to form,” Collins said. “It’s been a tough period for me to stay available. So I’m trying to do what I can to get back into shape.”

Collins participated in a scuffle Thursday between the Clippers’ home games against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls. He came out of that situation feeling good, but the Clippers will want to get another one of those “be ready” games and continue to evaluate him as he makes a run for his return.

“Yeah, I’m back in the Stay Ready Games, I’m feeling better. These types of injuries are just freak accidents, freak injuries. Just looking on the bright side, it could have been worse, it could have been something else. Again, I don’t even really want to think about it, but again, I’m doing good. And I’m just trying to, again, stay healthy and make sure I’m ready to go.”

Through November 25 – eight games after joining the starting lineup – John Collins averaged 14.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists, while shooting 60.1 percent from the field and 46.5 percent from three.

So how do the Clippers plan to re-engage a player like Collins after he missed a significant amount of time?

“He fits in very well,” Tyronn Lue told ClutchPoints. “It’s definitely worth seeing where he is with his minutes restriction. Jesse has been a big part of us all year. His game, once he started playing well, really changed our season for us. Just see where he is minutes-wise, see how he feels, and go from there.”

Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson also returned, leaving John Collins to take on a larger role for the team after losing Ivica Zubac in the trade. And while he hasn’t played since the loss of rookie center Yannick Konan Niederhauser, Collins’ absence has been felt on the glass.

“His ability to rebound the basketball, offensive rebound,” Lue said of where the Clippers have missed John Collins most. “And then to slow the game down, we can post somebody up, go to the mid-post area to slow the game down. He’s been really good at that, so we miss him. And like I said, miss his energy. His energy on the floor is really good.”

Since the Clippers started the season 6-21, John Collins has been the focal point of the Clippers’ offense, averaging 15.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per game, while shooting an absurd 63.6 percent from the field and 54.9 percent from three.

The LA Clippers are set to host the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night, the second game of a tough five-on-seven stretch for the Clippers.

Two-time NBA All-Star Darius Garland was on the Clippers’ injury report for Friday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls and did not play with what the team called “left toe injury management.” The Clippers are taking several precautions to ensure that Garland does not suffer any effects from surgery on his left toe in the offseason, as well as a sprain on his right toe earlier this season.

Everything we know about Darius Garland’s injury status for tonight’s game vs. the Kings.

Darius Garland’s injury status vs. Kings

Darius Garland was listed out for Friday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls, but is expected to be upgraded to “available” to play in Saturday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings. The LA Clippers are expected to make it official around 1pm PST when the official injury report is released.

Darius Garland hasn’t played in any back-to-backs since the Clippers acquired him in the trade deadline week deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers for James Harden. The Clippers guard has had his minutes limited in his return to action following a toe injury, but hopes to continue playing his way through it.

Darius Garland told ClutchPoints, “I’m just trying to stick with it. My teammates are picking me up, the coaches are telling me to stick with it. I’m just trying to get my rhythm back, get used to playing with everybody, get used to the system. I mean it’s been good, it’s been seamless. I’ve had issues with the minutes restriction, but it’s all good. I’m just talking about the medical staff and the coaches. Trying to listen and just go out there and play with a chip on my shoulder and work as hard as I can when I have those minutes.”

The Clippers are undefeated in the five games Garland has played so far, with the guard averaging 17.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 45.9 percent from three.

So far, the Clippers have posted a 34–32 record, turning their season around to 28–11 since starting the season 6–21.

When it comes to the question of whether Darius Garland is playing tonight against the Kings, the answer is yes.

clippers injury report

The Clippers have four players listed on the injury report for Friday night’s game.

• Darius Garland (left toe injury management): out
• Bradley Beal (left hip fracture): Out
• John Collins (neck strain): out
• Yannick Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament rupture): out

Kings injury report

The Clippers have nine players listed on the injury report for Friday night’s game.

• Patrick Baldwin Jr. (G League – Two-Way): Out
• Devin Carter (right calf soreness): out
• Drew Eubanks (left thumb soreness): out
• De’Andre Hunter (retinal repair of left eye): out
• Zach LaVine (right fifth finger tendon repair): out
• Malik Monk (right ankle soreness): doubtful
• Keegan Murray (sprained left ankle): Out
• Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair): outside
• Isaiah Stevens (G League – Two-Way): Out

The Sacramento Kings were defeated by the Charlotte Hornets 117-109 on Wednesday night. Friday’s game represents the second consecutive contest for the Clippers.

Derrick White is listed as probable for Saturday night’s matchup as the Boston Celtics prepare to face the Washington Wizards.

Boston released their latest injury report ahead of Saturday’s 6:00 p.m. ET tipoff, listing White as probable with a right knee injury. The update comes as the Celtics look to snap a two-game losing streak and regain momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season after a 104-102 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.

White last appeared in Boston’s 125-116 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, delivering one of his strongest performances of the season. The veteran guard recorded 34 points, seven assists, five rebounds and one block while shooting 11 of 22 from the field. He also converted 9 of 11 free throws and completed 3 of 11 from three-point range in 40 minutes.

The 31-year-old has played a major role in Boston’s backcourt all season long. In 63 appearances, White averaged a career-high 17.5 points, as well as 5.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game. He is also posting a career-best 1.2 steals per contest while logging 34.3 minutes per game.

While his shooting numbers are 39.4% from the field and 32.7% from three-point range, White continues to be a valuable two-way contributor for the Celtics team, which currently holds a 43-23 record.

Celtics injury report reveals Derrick White’s status ahead of Wizards matchup

Boston’s injury report includes White as well as several additional players:

• Baylor Scheierman – potential (sprained right ankle)
• John Tonje – Suspicious (G League Two-Way)
• Nikola Vucevic – Outside (right ring finger fracture)
• Derrick White – potential (injury in right knee)

The Celtics enter Saturday’s contest with the goal of stabilizing after recent losses by maintaining their position near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

Meanwhile, Washington comes in with a 16-49 record as the Wizards head into a rebuilding season. The matchup provides Boston an opportunity to gain momentum against a team near the bottom of the conference standings.

Saturday’s game also marks the beginning of a three-game homestand for the Celtics. Following its contest against Washington, Boston will host the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.

Tipoff between the Celtics and Wizards is scheduled for 6:00 pm ET, with the game airing on MNMT and NBA TV.

The Oklahoma City Thunder received an encouraging update regarding forward Jalen Williams as he recovers from a hamstring strain.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault recently indicated that Williams is making progress in his rehabilitation. The update was reported Saturday by OKC Thunder Wire’s Clemente Almanza on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Mark Daigneault says Jalen Williams is making ‘progress’ in recovery from hamstring strain.”

Williams, 24, has been sidelined since February 11. His most recent appearance came in Oklahoma City’s 136–109 win over the Phoenix Suns. In that game, Williams gave one of his most efficient performances of the season, recording 28 points, five assists and four rebounds.

He shot 11 of 12 from the field, 4 of 5 from the free-throw line and converted both of his three-point attempts during 20 minutes of play. The performance helped the Thunder earn a dominant win before Williams’ injury absence began.

Thunder continue seven-game winning streak as Jalen Williams works toward comeback

Williams is currently in his fourth NBA season and remains a key part of Oklahoma City’s lineup when healthy. In 26 games this season, he has averaged 17.5 points, 5.4 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 47.9% from the field, 31.3% from three-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line, while averaging 29 minutes per contest.

Even during his absence, Oklahoma City continued to grow. The Thunder finished atop the Western Conference with a 52–15 record and entered their next contest with a seven-game winning streak.

The Thunder will attempt to extend that run on Sunday when they conclude a four-game homestand against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who enter the matchup with a 41-26 record. The game is scheduled for 1:00 pm ET and will be broadcast on ABC.

Williams’ continued progress could give Oklahoma City a timely boost as the team heads toward the postseason.

The Denver Nuggets visit the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Jamal Murray is on the injury report along with Aaron Gordon, with both players listed as probable. Murray is nursing a left ankle injury, while Gordon is nursing a right hamstring injury. The Nuggets defeated the San Antonio Spurs 136–131 after erasing a 20-point deficit. Here’s everything we know about Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon’s injuries and their status for the Lakers game.

Jamal Murray’s injury status vs. Lakers

Given that Jamal Murray is on the injury report as probable, he will likely be in uniform for Saturday’s game against the Lakers. Murray has been on the injury report these days, but continues to play at a high level as the All-Star guard’s 39 points led six Nuggets in double figures, including Nikola Jokic (31 points). He recorded another triple-double (20 rebounds, 12 assists) with three steals and two blocks.

Murray’s production has increased across the board, averaging 28.6 points on 49.6% shooting, including 46.7% through seven games. This is arguably his best offensive performance of the regular season. Meanwhile, Aaron Gordon has only played three games this month as the Nuggets are getting off to an easy start getting back into the crease.

Gordon’s knee forced him to play only 26 games this season as he continues to heal from a season-ending right hamstring injury, leading the Nuggets to what they hope will be a deep playoff run. Gordon missed Game 7 of the Nuggets’ Western Conference Semifinal matchup against the Thunder. After missing Thursday’s game against Spurs, he should be cleared to play in Saturday’s match.

With Thursday’s comeback win against the Spurs, the Nuggets improved to 41-26, the fifth-best record in the Western Conference standings, just a half-game behind the Lakers.

A win against the Lakers would move the Nuggets to fourth place. As far as the question of whether Jamal Murray is playing against the Lakers tonight, the answer is probably yes.

nuggets injury report

Aaron Gordon – probable – right hamstring; injury management

Jamal Murray – Probable – Left Ankle; Sprain

Peyton Watson – Out – Right hamstring; strain

Lakers injury report

Jackson Hayes – Probable – Back; agony

Maxi Kleber – outside – back part of the lumbar region; strain

The Golden State Warriors have agreed to sign center Omar Yurtseven to a 10-day contract, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Charania reported the move on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday, citing Yurtseven representatives.

“The Golden State Warriors are signing former Heat and Jazz center Omar Yurtseven to a 10-day contract. Yurtseven, who spent the season in the EuroLeague before joining the G League last week, posted 36 points and 12 rebounds on Friday night,” agents Keith Glass and Luke Glass told ESPN.

The 27-year-old Yurtsev most recently played in the NBA with the Utah Jazz during the 2023-24 season. In that campaign, the 7-foot center averaged 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 53.8% from the field in 48 appearances, which included 12 starts. He also attempted perimeter shots, connecting on 20.8% of his three-point attempts while logging 11.4 minutes per game.

Prior to his time at Utah, Yurtsev spent two seasons with the Miami Heat, where he drew attention for his rebounding ability and interior scoring. During his tenure in Miami, he played a rotational role and showed flashes of productivity when given extended minutes.

Warriors add frontcourt depth as Omar Yurtseven returns from stint overseas

Yurtseven recently began the current season playing in the EuroLeague abroad before returning to the United States. He joined the G League last week and made an immediate impact, putting up a dominant performance with 36 points and 12 rebounds on Friday night.

The Warriors are expected to use the 10-day contract as an opportunity to evaluate Yurtseven’s fit within the roster while adding depth to their frontcourt rotation. Golden State has dealt with injuries and lineup adjustments throughout the season, creating a need for additional size and interior presence.

Golden State enters the midst of a challenging stretch of the schedule. The Warriors currently have a 32-34 record and are attempting to stop a four-game losing streak as they struggle to remain competitive in the Western Conference playoff picture.

The team would like to bounce back in its next match against the New York Knicks (43-25). The matchup is scheduled for 5:00 pm PT and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s status remains uncertain as the Milwaukee Bucks prepare for a road matchup against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday afternoon. The Bucks (27-38) listed the former MVP as questionable on their latest injury report due to management of a right calf injury prior to tip-off at 3:00 PM ET at State Farm Arena.

UPDATE: Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out of Saturday’s game with an ankle sprain.

Milwaukee continues to monitor Antetokounmpo’s workload as the team goes through a difficult stretch of the season. The 31-year-old last played Thursday night in a 112-105 loss to the Miami Heat, and delivered another strong performance despite the loss. Antetokounmpo recorded 31 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block while shooting 12 of 24 from the field and 7 of 11 from the free-throw line in 29 minutes.

Through 35 games this season, Antetokounmpo has remained the centerpiece of Milwaukee’s offense. He averaged 27.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and one steal per game, while shooting an efficient 62.8 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range in 29 minutes per contest.

Milwaukee enters Saturday’s contest looking to snap a three-game losing streak as the team attempts to regain the lead in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bucks’ injury report also includes several other players whose availability remains uncertain.

Bucks await injury update on Giannis Antetokounmpo as Hawks have won eight straight games

Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable due to management of a right calf injury. Ousmane Dieng is also questionable while dealing with an illness. Kevin Porter Jr. is listed as questionable with right knee synovitis. Alex Antetokounmpo and Cormac Ryan have both been listed as part of their G League two-way assignments.

Atlanta is entering the matchup with momentum on its side. The Hawks (35-31) currently have the longest active winning streak in the NBA, having won eight consecutive games prior to Saturday’s contest. The surge has helped Atlanta climb the Eastern Conference standings, solidifying its playoff position.

With Antetokounmpo’s status still uncertain, Milwaukee could face a tough challenge against one of the hottest teams in the league. The Bucks will likely make a final decision on his availability closer to game time after additional evaluation of his calf condition.

Saturday’s game concludes a brief two-game road trip for Milwaukee. The team will return to Fiserv Forum to host the Indiana Pacers (15-52) on Sunday at 3:30 PM ET, as the Bucks attempt to stabilize their season during the closing period.

Given the frenzy surrounding the Miami Heat after star Bam Adebayo scored a historic 83 points on Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards, the team is undoubtedly focused on securing a better spot in the postseason. As the team has struggled with injuries, Friday’s injury report indicated that Heat guard Norman Powell could return, now adding Herro into the mix.

Both have been upgraded to “available” for Saturday’s crucial game against the Orlando Magic, as Powell has missed the last seven games with a right groin strain. Originally labeled as “week-to-week” by Miami, it seems as if seven games was good enough for his recovery, as the team is missing its leading scorer (22.5 points per game) and first-time All-Star.

Herro had missed the last two contests due to left quadriceps soreness, marking a major comeback from a 15-game absence due to a rib injury. Reminding the basketball world of his All-Star potential, he played every game after the All-Star break until last Tuesday.

In March, Herro was averaging 26.3 points per game on 53.7 shooting from the field and 51.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Could the Heat’s role be changing for Norman Powell with Tyler Herro?

As evidenced by the change in Powell and Herro’s Heat roles, the chemistry between the two has been a process throughout the season, with injuries coming their way, as Saturday will mark the 12th game the two have played together. Herro had missed a total of 45 games before Powell suffered a groin injury, with the latter taking on the role of being the main offensive weapon alongside Adebayo and flourishing, leading to an All-Star season.

However, Powell could perhaps see a role coming off the bench, mostly to get his feet under him to recover from injury, as Herro did the same after each injury. With Miami’s record at 38-29, sixth in the East, and Orlando at 37-28, fifth in the conference, there’s no denying how important Saturday’s game is for the Heat.

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg has learned a lot this season. Amid a stellar 2025-26 season that led to his Rookie of the Year candidacy, Flagg recorded his 25th 20+ point game in a 138-135 loss against the Cleveland Cavs on Friday. This set a new NBA record, surpassing Hall of Fame guard Kobe Bryant’s record for most 20+ point games by a teenager.

flag Reflecting on her rookie season During his postgame media availability following Friday’s three-point loss to the Cavs, according to AB Jones of DLLS Sports.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself throughout this year. About the game of basketball. About the people around me,” Flagg said. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot about life. It’s been a big year of learning for me, and I’ve had to mature a lot. So it’s been a good year.”

Cooper Flagg says he not only learned a lot during his up-and-down rookie season with the Mavericks, but also matured a lot throughout the year.

“Throughout this year I’ve learned a lot about myself. About the game of basketball. About the people around me. I think I’ve… pic.twitter.com/RYKgfOzjPG

– Abby Jones (@_abigaiiiil) 14 March 2026

Cooper finished with 25 points on 8-for-16 shooting, five assists and four rebounds.

Mark Stein at Cooper Flag in ROTY Race

In a tight MVP race with the Hornets’ Kon Knueppel, Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg’s chances to win the award remain strong, but is there more that can be done to improve his chances? NBA insider Marc Stein recently addressed that very question by looking at the Mavericks’ chances of winning the lottery.

Additionally, the Hornets have emerged as a playoff team, and Knueppel is a key part of that. As Steen said, with the Mavericks’ season coming to an end, Flagg’s chances of winning Rookie of the Year may remain bleak, according to The All-NBA Podcast.

“The Mavs have 18 games left, and the truth is, if they can go 0-18, that would be the best thing for them. That’s the way the system is,” Steen said on the All-NBA Podcast. “The way the system is structured, the best thing for the Mavs is to lose, and lose royally, and that’s obviously not going to be great if you’re chasing Rookie of the Year.”

The Mavs will face the Cavs in a rematch on Sunday.

The San Antonio Spurs and Charlotte Hornets are set to play on Saturday afternoon. However, Victor Vembanyama is struggling with an ankle injury, so will he play tonight?

Wembanyama is listed on the injury report with a sore right ankle. San Antonio is monitoring his injury status closely.

Here’s everything we know about Wembanyama’s injury status in today’s game vs the Hornets.

Victor Wembanyama’s injury status vs. Hornets

According to the NBA injury report, Wembanyama is currently listed as questionable to play.

At 48–18, the Spurs are in second place in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, the 34-33 Hornets are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. San Antonio is one of the best teams in the NBA, while Charlotte has been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this year. The Hornets could eventually earn a play-in spot.

The game projects to be competitive. When the question comes whether Victor Wembanyama is playing against the Hornets today, the answer is probably.

spurs injury report

Spurs have five players listed on the injury report.

• Victor Vembanyama (right ankle soreness): doubtful
• Dylan Harper (right calf injury): doubtful
• Harrison Ingram (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• Emmanuel Miller (G League Two-Way): Questionable
• David Jones Garcia (G League Two-Way): Out

hornet injury report

The Hornets have six players listed on the injury report.

• Coby White (right heel injury): Probable
• Ryan Kalkbrenner (illness): probable
• Liam McNeely (left ankle sprain): Out
• Tidjane Salaun (left calf strain): out
• PJ Hall (G League two-way): out
• Antonio Reeves (G League Two-Way): Out